Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday warned of a potential El Niño crisis in Telangana, citing falling water reserves, rising electricity demand and the risk of crop losses. He appealed to farmers to reconsider paddy cultivation in the upcoming Yasangi season and urged people to conserve water.
Revanth said water storage had declined by 72% in the Krishna basin and 40% in the Godavari basin. Rainfall was 23% below normal, he added.
Against a stated requirement of 460 TMC, only 209 TMC of water was available, the chief minister said. The state must supply drinking water to 24,000 villages, and he stressed that the available reserves must be used carefully.
Electricity demand had reached 20,003 MW, compared with the usual October level of around 15,000 MW, he said. About 30 lakh agricultural pump sets were operating across the state, adding to the pressure on power supply. The government was buying electricity at prevailing market rates to protect standing crops ahead of the monsoon harvest, expected in about 20 days.
Officials had been instructed to prevent crops from drying up, with reports indicating potential damage across 10 lakh acres. Revanth urged farmers to reduce water-intensive cultivation in the coming season and prioritise water conservation. He also asked people to avoid wasting water on activities such as washing vehicles.
The government is preparing an action plan under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, with repairs to tanks, lakes and ponds to be prioritised. Revanth called on the Centre to provide financial assistance to farmers affected by crop losses and those who might skip the next season. He said the government would organise an all-party meeting after Dasara and lead a delegation to Delhi to meet Union ministers. He also appealed to political parties, the media and citizens to cooperate with the government in tackling the anticipated crisis.
